Mississippi State football is experiencing the full effects of the transfer portal season, with several players leaving the roster. The Bulldogs saw another impact player make his move into the transfer portal, and it's a move that had been rumored for a few days now...
Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Michael Van Buren enters transfer portal
Tuesday night, news broke that Mississippi State's true freshman QB Michael Van Buren was entering the transfer portal. Van Buren started eight games for the Bulldogs in 2024.
BREAKING: Mississippi State True Freshman QB Michael Van Buren plans to enter the Transfer Portal, he tells @on3sports
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 11, 2024
Will have 3 years of eligibility remaining https://t.co/HtCFSHXKo7 pic.twitter.com/IYBEckxHrF
A 4-star prospect out of Baltimore, MD in the class of 2024, Michael Van Buren flipped his commitment from Oregon to Mississippi State shortly after Jeff Lebby took over as head coach. He was viewed by many as Lebby's "hand-picked guy" at QB for the future in Starkville.
Van Buren got thrust into action far sooner than anticipated. In the fourth game of the season, starter Blake Shapen went down with an injury that would end his season. Van Buren became the team's new starter. He ended up impressing during his run leading the offense, passing for 1886 yards with 11 touchdowns to seven interceptions on 54.7% completion percentage. He also added five scores on the ground.
In just his second ever start, he would have a breakout performance on the road against eventual SEC champion Georgia, passing for 306 yards and three scores as the Maroon and White Bulldogs put 31 points on the board.
Michael Van Buren showed enough promise during the season that he looked to be a player Jeff Lebby could build around for the future. But in recent days, there were consistent rumblings that the price tag to keep Van Buren was likely going to be more than State wanted to spend at the position. It became more and more clear that a portal entry was imminent, and sure enough, Van Buren has now announced his intentions to head elsewhere.
Landing Jackson Arnold out of the transfer portal just became all the more critical for Mississippi State
As Michael Van Buren's decision to transfer was expected, Mississippi State has been working to shore up its QB room for the 2025 season. Veteran Blake Shapen has announced his return after being granted a sixth year of eligibility following his injury this season. And State has its next highly-rated freshman signed to the program in KaMario Taylor.
But the Bulldogs need a transfer to come in and, at the very least, compete with Shapen for the starting job in 2025. The transfer Jeff Lebby has his sights set on is former Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold. Arnold, a 99-overall 5-star in the class of 2023, played for Lebby during his final seasons as the Sooners' OC. The two are very close, and Lebby thinks incredibly highly of him.
Arnold is in the portal after a frustrating 2024 season in Norman. He wants a fresh start, and a reunion with Lebby seems to be a high possibility. But it's not a sure thing. Arnold is set to visit Auburn this week, and other high-level programs are going to be interested in him. He has very real interest in Mississippi State, but if he thinks there's a better opportunity elsewhere, he's going to take it.
It is imperative that Jeff Lebby get Jackson Arnold to Starkville. He's an incredible talent who could absolutely give you what Van Buren would have, if not more. Even if for no other reason than to generate some much-needed excitement, Lebby has to get his former QB to come join him.